- “I'd rather be a really useful engine, than a really shiny engine any day.”
- ― Scruff
Scruff is a green vertical boiler tank engine who works at the Waste Dump with Whiff.
Biography
Scruff was brought to Sodor to work at Whiff's Waste Dump. He cannot stand being cleaned and when Thomas once tried to have him cleaned, he fled and hid in a siding until he was coaxed out with the promise of being allowed to shunt rubbish trucks.[1] He once had to go to the Sodor Steamworks to have his bufferbeam mended and later that day, he helped Gordon tidy up the waste dump before the inspector arrived.[2]
Scruff once had to be repainted and he enjoyed his new look so much that he did not want to get dirty. He then went around the Island, looking for a new job, until Gordon reminded him that he was most useful at the rubbish dump with Whiff.[3]
In the eighteenth series, Scruff broke down at Crocks Scrap Yard and was shunted to the Steamworks by Samson. After he was fixed, he overheard the Fat Controller saying Samson had taken his car to the scrapyards and Scruff told the Fat Controller he knew a shortcut. He then made it to the scrapyards just before Reg could grab it.[4]
He and Whiff later helped out with Thomas when he ordered himself to be covered in waste, so the tank engine could play a trick on Diesel for pretends to be the 'Ghost of Christmas Future'. They then attended Sir Robert Norramby's Christmas party.[5]
Scruff - alongside the other engines - wanted to participate in the Great Railway Show, though the Fat Controller did not select him.[6]
Personality
Scruff is a grimy little chap, with a chartreuse boxy shape. He likes to sometimes get dirty during his job. He is more than content with "scrunching" and shunting rubbish wagons at Whiff's waste dump and has few other aspirations. He has been known to run in fear and hide away from things that he does not quite understand and can find having all the focus on him a little daunting. It seems, at times, that Scruff would rather be busily working in the background. However, he is cheerful to welcome engines to the waste dump and happy to have others join in with the "scrunching". He is notably, perhaps, one of the few engines on Sodor with little desire to be clean and presentable. Scruff's main motivator is being able to just get stuck in and knuckle down with his jobs.
Technical Details
Basis
Scruff is based on a Sentinel 100 HP BE Type chain-driven vertical-boiler steam locomotive, more specifically, No. 9369 "Musketeer". Spunky Steamie shares the same basis.
Livery
Scruff is painted neon green with sea green stripes, funnel and front which is weathered due to him not getting washed. He has brass nameplates on either side of his tanks, which are worn and difficult to read.
Appearances
Official Description
From Official Website[1]
| “ | Scruff: Scruff the Scruncher is a boxy steam engine. He loves being dirty and doesn't like being cleaned. He's a kind engine who often hides in sidings when others want to take him to the washdown. Scruff loves working with Whiff at the Waste Dump.
|
” |
Audio Files
Whistle
Scruff's whistle is Edward's, but at fourteen steps higher pitch and Percy's, but at two steps higher pitch.
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 17 | Series 22 |
Trivia
- In the twentieth series, Scruff gained lamps and brakepipes on his front and rear.
- His side tanks are considerably taller than his basis to accommodate his face.
- Scruff travels far faster in the television series than his basis is capable of.
- Scruff shares both of his English voice actors with Kevin.
- Scruff's Wooden Railway toy is one of the only Wooden Railway toys to have buffers painted on.
Quote
- “Let's get scrunching!”
- ― Scruff's catchphrase
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- Mega Bloks (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Minis
- Classic Minis
- Old School Minis
- DC Super Friends Minis (as The Atom and Armour Batman)
- Space Minis
- Neon Glow in the Dark Minis
- Beach Minis
- Icky Minis
- Spring Basket Minis
- Ice and Snow Minis
- Collectible Railway (discontinued)
- Adventures (sold only in Clean-Up Crew 4-Pack; discontinued)
External Link
References
- ↑ T&F S14 #16 "Thomas and Scruff"
- ↑ T&F S14 #17 "O the Indignity"
- ↑ T&F S17 #2 "Scruff's Makeover"
- ↑ T&F S18 #25 "Samson Sent for Scrap"
- ↑ T&F S19 #20 "Diesel's Ghostly Christmas Part Two"
- ↑ T&F The Great Race
| Locomotives | Whiff | Scruff |
|---|---|
| People | Old Bailey |
| Affiliates | Quarry Branch Line | Misty Valley Branch Line | Whiff's Waste Dump |
| Stations | Killdane | Abbey | Hawin Lake | Kirk Machan | Peel Godred |